Broadcaster and wit Sandi Toksvig, who studied in Cambridge, said she was "honoured" to be recognised with an OBE.

The Danish-born star has become a familiar face and voice since first finding national fame three decades ago as a children's TV presenter.

Toksvig, 55, has been included in the honours list for her services to broadcasting.

She said of her award: "I'm honoured to have been recognised in this way. Broadcasting is a team effort and I would like to pay tribute to all the writers, production and technical staff I've worked with over the years."

Toksvig was often travelling as a youngster as a result of her father's work as a foreign correspondent but settled in the UK and went on to study at Girton College, Cambridge.

It was while at university that she cut her teeth in comedy, performing in an all-female Footlights revue, then had her first major break as a presenter hosting ITV Saturday morning show No. 73 in the early 1980s, along with future Oscar-winning film director Andrea Arnold.

She also established herself on the stand-up comedy circuit and became a regular face on Channel 4's improvisational show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as contributing regularly to shows such as Call My Bluff - as a team captain - together with Have I Got News For You and QI.

Nicholas Parsons who presented Sale of the Century on Anglia has been made a CBE Credit: PA Wire

TV and radio personality Nicholas Parsons said he was "flattered and delighted" to be awarded a CBE for his charitable work.

He become known for hosting Anglia Television's Sale Of The Century, with its famous opening line "And now from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week ..." which launched as a regional show in 1971, and was broadcast nationally by 1975.

He said: "I think it's a very nice honour - I'm flattered and I'm delighted. I think honours are a wonderful thing to receive if you have worked hard and that is recognised. I don't understand these people who are pompous and say they don't want it. "